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Accoustic Bass used in Blues

lopesraphael

lopesraphael

Jun 24, 2013
132
7
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
#1
Hello friends!

I'm intrigued with a model that I've been seeing more and more among Blues bassists. it's an accoustic short scale bass, such as this one:

FG_RODRIGO%20MANTOVANI.jpg

screenshot-03042015-02-24-49-am-png.png


eric-clapton-acoustic-by-larry-busacca.jpg

What brand is it? What model? It's pretty vintage and I've only seen blues bassists using it.

I believe there are other brands and models of this accoustic short scale. Do you guys know anything about it?

Thank you very much for your kind attention.
 
#4
lopesraphael said:
Hello friends!

I'm intrigued with a model that I've been seeing more and more among Blues bassists. it's an accoustic short scale bass, such as this one:

FG_RODRIGO%20MANTOVANI.jpg

screenshot-03042015-02-24-49-am-png.png


eric-clapton-acoustic-by-larry-busacca.jpg

What brand is it? What model? It's pretty vintage and I've only seen blues bassists using it.

I believe there are other brands and models of this accoustic short scale. Do you guys know anything about it?

Thank you very much for your kind attention.
Click to expand...
Several Kay reissues available... Sam Ash, etc.
359ffkm.jpg

Paul's been known to play Kay.
2gub4hd.png
 
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#6
As noted by pics above, variations on a theme. Same bass, different details, available in both original and reissue generations. Probably the reason you see so many blues bassists with these is that after WWII Chicago became the center of urban (electric) blues, and Kay was headquartered in Chicago. Local bass, easily accessible, and cheaper than Fender.
 
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#7
Yep that's a Kay (Fritz Bros. makes an RI (Invalid Link Removed).

I have a similar model Kay with the "speedbump" pickup that I used for blues, swing, jazz, roots, reggae, finger funk, and country for decades, but, since it's nearly 60 years old, I've decided to retire it from gigs and now I use this:

Ibanez AF-55 Bass Conversion.jpg
 
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#10
lopesraphael said:
Are those the original pickups? The bass looks amazing !
Click to expand...

Thanks.

Yes, those are the original pickups. When I did the conversion I was initially thinking of swapping them out for a rail, lipstick tube, or EMG HB (Steinberger) pickups but the OEMs are working well enough and everyone I've played it with commented on how good it sounds so I'm leaving well enough alone.
 
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#14
You can see that most of those in the photos are the originals from the 50's, not re-issues. I had a re-issue earlier this year for about a month. Gorgeous bass but it just didn't work for me, sound-wise.

Now I have an Eastwood Classic 4 I found previously owned that is similar (semi-acoustic) and very nice once I changed the crazy Gretxch style wiring to standard V and T with pickup selector and a mute switch.
 
#16
@lucyfur recently posted about picking up a '53 Kay and having a truss rod installed to correct the up-bow (apparently they were made without a truss rod?). So I'm curious how many of the vintage ones actually still have straight necks.

Also very curious about the pickup - is it similar to the dan electro lipstick pickup? I mean is that a chrome cover or tube I see? Or is that shiny top the actual surface of a rail-type magnet thru the coil?

EDIT: found this picture of what's under the chrome:
KaySpeedBump-002.jpg
 
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#17
mongo2 said:
Yep that's a Kay (Fritz Bros. makes an RI (Invalid Link Removed).

I have a similar model Kay with the "speedbump" pickup that I used for blues, swing, jazz, roots, reggae, finger funk, and country for decades, but, since it's nearly 60 years old, I've decided to retire it from gigs and now I use this:

View attachment 994389
Click to expand...

Obviously started life as a guitar. Must be super short scale. I am guessing 24.75". Easy to play?
Looks like the original guitar pick-ups. How does it sound?
Very cool man!
 
#19
Liam Wald said:
Obviously started life as a guitar. Must be super short scale. I am guessing 24.75". Easy to play?
Looks like the original guitar pick-ups. How does it sound?
Very cool man!
Click to expand...

Yes, it's a converted AF55 jazz guitar with a 24.75" scale and it's very easy to play. I've used basses with scales as short as 18" (Guild Ashbory).

The fully hollow body, floating bridge and tailpiece gives it a lot in common with an upright and lower tension strings contribute to a tone that reflects that...not exactly like my son's upright but with similar tonal elements.
 
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